CDChttp://ripr.org
enSome Progress On Hospital Infections, But RI Still Lags On Somehttp://ripr.org/post/some-progress-hospital-infections-ri-still-lags-some
<p>Rhode Island is making some progress against hospital-acquired infections. But some infection rates are still higher than the national average.</p>Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:55:07 +0000Kristin Gourlay45083 at http://ripr.orgAt The Crossroads: Despite More Cases, Funding For Hep C Pales Next To HIVhttp://ripr.org/post/crossroads-despite-more-cases-funding-hep-c-pales-next-hiv
<p>A couple of years ago, I read an issue brief written by Brad Brockmann with the <a href="http://www.brown.edu/Research/Prisonerhealth/index.html">Rhode Island Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights</a>. The brief, called "<a href="http://www.ripha.org/documents/34642537/37976566/Data_Brief_08222012_Hep_C.pdf/ae45b7b1-7820-4047-8950-7f4a2f5a0f79">Hepatitis C: Threat and Opportunity</a>," depicted the number of HIV cases against the number of Hepatitis C cases in Rhode Island in 2007 - 2008 in a bar graph. The bar for the number of hep C cases was much, much higher.Fri, 19 Dec 2014 19:20:22 +0000Kristin Gourlay43924 at http://ripr.orgAt The Crossroads: Despite More Cases, Funding For Hep C Pales Next To HIVAt The Crossroads: Hepatitis C Resources In RIhttp://ripr.org/post/crossroads-hepatitis-c-resources-ri
<p>For the past several weeks we've been airing stories from our series, "At the Crossroads: The rise of hepatitis C and the fight to stop it." Maybe you've been wondering, hey, should I get tested? Where can I do that? And what's it like?</p><p>Wonder no more. Here's a collection of resources to get you started.</p>Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:30:58 +0000Kristin Gourlay42796 at http://ripr.orgAt The Crossroads, Part 2: Finding Hep C Infections Before It's Too Latehttp://ripr.org/post/crossroads-part-2-finding-hep-c-infections-its-too-late
<p>Hepatitis C infects an estimated five million Americans, nearly 20-thousand Rhode Islanders among them. And most of them don’t know it. But many are about to find out. It takes about 20 years for most people to notice any symptoms from hepatitis C, and it was about that long ago most people got infected.Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:00:00 +0000Kristin Gourlay41629 at http://ripr.orgAt The Crossroads, Part 2: Finding Hep C Infections Before It's Too LateHealth Officials Report First Death With Possible Link To EV-D68http://ripr.org/post/health-officials-report-first-death-possible-link-ev-d68
<p>A child from Rhode Island has died from a combination of infections, including enterovirus D68, or EV-D68. It’s one of the first known deaths with some kind of link to EV-D68. What role the respiratory virus played in the child’s death is still unclear.</p>Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:44:07 +0000Kristin Gourlay40296 at http://ripr.orgHealth Officials Report First Death With Possible Link To EV-D68CDC Confirms 1st Case of EV-D68 In Rhode Islandhttp://ripr.org/post/cdc-confirms-1st-case-ev-d68-rhode-island
<p>Rhode Island’s first case of enterovirus D68 has been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is responsible for some hospitalizations, but so far no deaths.</p><p>Rhode Island’s first case of the respiratory virus has been confirmed in an adult, who was recently hospitalized but has been discharged. It’s already been confirmed in neighboring states. Rhode Island sent a batch of specimens to the CDC for testing, and this is the first to come back positive.</p>Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:57:20 +0000Kristin Gourlay40026 at http://ripr.orgHighest ADHD Rate In New England? Rhode Island.http://ripr.org/post/highest-adhd-rate-new-england-rhode-island
<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is highlighting <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/features/key-findings-adhd72013.html">new data </a>(published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) about reported ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) rates among kids aged 4 - 17.</p>Mon, 25 Nov 2013 18:00:01 +0000Kristin Gourlay25322 at http://ripr.orgMandated flu vaccines?–UPDATEhttp://ripr.org/post/mandated-flu-vaccines-update
<p><strong>UPDATE</strong>: As of today, October 5, 2012, the Rhode Island Department of Health has issued a ruling that it will mandate flu vaccines for all health care workers and volunteers. You can get a medical exemption with a note from your doctor, or fill out a form saying you refuse to get the shot but understand you’ll have to wear a surgical mask when interacting with patients during flu season. <a href="http://wrnihealthcareblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/mandated-flu-vaccines/">Link </a>to the state regulation (it’s a .pdf).</p>Thu, 27 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000Kristin Gourlay8288 at http://ripr.orgBreastfeeding Report Card: RI Behind the Curvehttp://ripr.org/post/breastfeeding-report-card-ri-behind-curve
<p>No pun intended. Well, OK, maybe a little bit intended.</p><p>But seriously, folks. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published its 2012 breastfeeding report card for all 50 states. And Rhode Island seems to be making progress in some areas. But not all. We’re lagging behind on a few key measures. For example, the report shows that about 34% of Rhode Island babies were fed breast milk, exclusively, through the age of three months. The national average is 36%.</p><p>First, here’s how the CDC describes what the report aims to tell us and how states play a role:</p>Fri, 03 Aug 2012 04:00:00 +0000Kristin Gourlay8316 at http://ripr.orgPertussis Cases Up; Vaccine Losing Steam?http://ripr.org/post/pertussis-cases-vaccine-losing-steam
<p>We’re seeing a few more cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in Rhode Island than usual right now (the total is eight as of Friday, July 20). But in the state of Washington, it’s reached official epidemic status. The Centers for Disease Control reports today in its weekly <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6128a1.htm?s_cid=mm6128a1_w">Morbidity and Mortality Report </a>that, although the pertussis incidence rate is higher in Washington, there’s a national trend emerging in terms of what <em>age</em> groups are getting sick:</p>Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000Kristin Gourlay8327 at http://ripr.org